At peace with ourselves

If you have never had to block your ears against some unbearable noise, consider yourself lucky. For most of us, whether we live in town or country, it feels as though the world is getting ever noisier.

With house prices so high, any outdoor space - no matter how small - is used as an extra room, with music playing into the early hours and the chatter getting louder as the evening wears on. How nice for those involved to be able to enjoy the warm weather. How miserable for those nearby to be forced to listen to the racket for hours on end. Unlike closing our eyes to unpleasant sights, we cannot close our ears and switch off the unwelcome sound waves being blasted at them.

With electricity came more noise. Where neighbours may have once complained about harpsichords and flutes invading their homes, now it is music blasting from iPod speakers and computer games being played at full volume. At the same time, the new laxer licensing laws enable pubs to be open later and have led to more antisocial noise at ever more antisocial hours. Cars may backfire less often than they used to, but there are many more on the roads. Drivers often seem to believe they are being generous in sharing their music with the rest of the world, as they drive along playing it as loudly as the car's speakers can go and wind down all their windows so we can appreciate the latest rap music from the supposed sanctuary of our bedrooms.

An Englishman's home is no longer his castle. As lorries rattle down residential streets and lanes, aeroplanes roar overhead, rowdy barbecues take place over the garden fence and teenagers yell on our doorstep, our castles are being invaded by constant and unwanted noise.

The British are used to living cheek by jowl; but, in the past, we were aware that, in order to keep the peace, we had to have consideration for others.

We have quite enough laws in this country, and need no more against noise. What we do need, though, are better manners.